Picture frame

ABSTRACT

Provided is a picture frame that fixes and posts a notice including a fixing hole along a side end, the picture frame including: a plurality of frames including, in a length direction, a combining groove having a uniform width, and providing an arrangement space of the notice as ends of the plurality of frames are mutually connected; and a fixing unit provided on the combining groove, and fixes the notice by hooking the fixing hole to one end, wherein the fixing unit applies elastic force to the notice through the fixing hole such that the notice is stretched out and fixed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0095431, filed on Jul. 3, 2015, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to, a picture frame, and more particularly, to a picture frame in which a notice disposed on a front surface of the picture frame is easily fixed and replaced.

2. Description of the Related Art

A picture frame is used to post a drawing, text, or a photo as the drawing, the text, or the photo is inserted into the picture frame, and is configured such that the drawing, the text, or the photo is protected and not damaged. Also, the picture frame is configured such that the drawing, the text, or the photo is replaced if required. For example, when a picture frame posts an advertising notice at a certain place, the advertising notice is replaced every certain time in order to increase an advertising effect.

KR 10-1367524 discloses a picture frame in which a notice is easily replaced.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a structure of a picture frame 10 according to a general technology, and FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a notice 1 in a fixed state by a coil elastic unit 12.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, one end of the coil elastic unit 12 is fixed at one side of the picture frame 10 by a screw nail, and the other end of the coil elastic unit 12 is hooked to a fixing hole of the notice 1.

The coil elastic unit 12 applies tensile force on the notice 1 such that the notice 1 is stretched out and fixed.

However, according to such a general technology, the coil elastic unit 12 has strong tensile force, and thus when the notice 1 is to be replaced and the other end of the coil elastic unit 12 is hooked to or unhooked from the fixing hole 2, force needs to be applied to the notice 1.

In order to easily detach the notice 1, the screw nail fixing the coil elastic unit 12 may be released, but when the screw nail is repeatedly released, the picture frame 10 may be damaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a picture frame including a fixing unit around an edge of the picture frame, which enables a notice to be easily replaced and fixed.

The present invention also provides a picture frame in which a fixing hole of a notice is hooked on a rotor that rotates according to manipulation of a user, and after the fixing hole is hooked, the rotor returns to an original location according to elastic force, thereafter the notice is fixed and stretched out.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a picture frame that fixes and posts a notice including a fixing hole along a side end, the picture frame including: a plurality of frames including, in a length direction, a combining groove having a uniform width, and providing an arrangement space of the notice as ends of the plurality of frames are mutually connected; and a fixing unit provided on the combining groove, and fixes the notice by hooking the fixing hole to one end, wherein the fixing unit applies elastic force to the notice through the fixing hole such that the notice is stretched out and fixed.

The plurality of frames may be provided such that the combining groove faces a front surface of the plurality of frames.

The combining groove may have an upper width narrower than a lower width.

The fixing unit may include: a body having a width corresponding to a width of the combining groove and including a connection groove into which an inner upper portion of the combining groove is inserted along a side surface; a rotor having one end rotatably disposed on the body and the other end comprising a hook that is hooked to the fixing hole; and an elastic unit disposed on a connection axis of the body and the rotor to apply elastic force to the rotor.

The picture frame may further include first and second fixing ends respectively protruding towards each other on the body and the rotor and are fixed as two ends of the elastic unit are respectively hooked.

The picture frame may further include: a first shaft having a pipe shape, disposed at one end of the body, and including, at one side, a first insertion groove extending from top to bottom; and a second shaft protruding to one end of the rotor to be inserted into the first shaft, and including, at one side of an end, a first hooking end inserted into the first insertion groove.

A width of the first insertion groove may correspond to a diameter of the first hooking end from top to middle, and may be larger than the diameter of the first hooking end from middle to bottom.

The picture frame may further include a rotation preventing end protruding from the body towards a hooking groove of the rotor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a structure of a picture frame according to a general technology;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a notice in a fixed state by a coil elastic unit;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a structure of a picture frame, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line A-A of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a detailed diagram of a region A of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a structure of a fixing unit used in an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view for describing a mutual relationship between a first shaft and a second shaft of a fixing unit used in an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a fixing unit used according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a diagram for describing how an embodiment of the present invention is used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One or more embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a structure of a picture frame 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the picture frame 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of frames 110 and a fixing unit 120.

First, the notice 1 posted on the picture frame 100 according to an embodiment includes a plurality of the fixing holes 2 along an edge of the notice 1, and since the notice 1 is widely used in the related field, details thereof are not provided here.

The frame 110 has a certain length and a certain width. Ends of 4 frames 110 are connected to each other to form a basic shape of the picture frame 100, and the frames 110 provide an arrangement space of the notice 1 therein. Here, the frames 110 include four frames that is arranged in a rectangular shape. Here, end surfaces of the frames 110 are the same, wherein the end surfaces may be cut in an incline angle of 45° and combined at right angles with the neighboring frames 110. However, an embodiment is not limited thereto, and the incline angle may vary according to a shape formed by the frames 110.

In addition, the frame 110 may be formed of an aluminum extruded material, but a material of the frame 110 is not limited thereto and may vary.

A combining groove 112 having a uniform width is formed in a length direction of the frame 110 at the middle of the frame 110. The fixing unit 120 described later is disposed in the combining groove 112. The frames 110 may be combined such that the combining groove 112 faces a front surface of the picture frame 100.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line A-A of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 4, an upper width of the combining groove 112 is narrower than a lower width of the combining groove 112. Accordingly, when the fixing unit 120 described later is fixed to the combining groove 112, the top of the combining groove 112 may be inserted into a side surface of the fixing unit 120 such that the fixing unit 120 is easily fixed.

Here, the number of fixing units 120 required on the combining groove 112 may be provided through the ends of the frames 110 before the ends of the frames 110 are connected to each other.

The notice 1 may be posted in the arrangement space formed as the frames 110 are combined. Meanwhile, the frames 110 and the notice 1 may be protected and overall strength of the picture frame 100 may be reinforced by disposing a back plate (not shown) having a certain thickness at a rear region of the frames 110.

The number of fixing units 120 required on the combining groove 112 of the frame 110 are provided such that the notice 1 is easily replaced, fixed, and stretched out. The number of fixing units 120 may correspond to the number of fixing holes 2 of the notice 1.

FIG. 5 is a detailed diagram of a region A of FIG. 3, and illustrates the fixing unit 120 disposed on the frame 110. Here, the detailed diagram of FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view for easy understanding of a shape of the fixing unit 120.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a structure of the fixing unit 120 used in an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the fixing unit 120 used in an embodiment of the present invention includes a body 130, a rotor 140, and an elastic unit 150.

The body 130 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape having a certain size, and enables the fixing unit 120 to be continuously disposed on the combining groove 112.

A connection groove 132 into which a top of the combining groove 112 is inserted is formed on a side surface of the body 130, at a certain width and depth.

Accordingly, the body 130 may be disposed at a certain location on the combining groove 112 according to demands of a user.

The rotor 140 has a plate shape having a certain length and width. One end of the rotor 140 is connected to one end of the body 130 via a shaft. The other end of the rotor 140 includes a hook 142 that is inserted into and hooked to the fixing hole 2.

Here, the rotor 140 is rotatably connected on the body 130, and thus may rotate at a certain angle by the user.

One end of the body 130 includes a first shaft 134.

The first shaft 134 has a pipe shape having a certain diameter and height, and a second shaft 144 described later is inserted into the first shaft 134.

One end of the rotor 140 includes the second shaft 144.

The second shaft 144 has a cylindrical shape having a certain length and diameter, and is inserted into the first shaft 134. The diameter of the second shaft 144 may correspond to an internal diameter of the first shaft 134.

The rotor 140 may be detachably connected to the body 130.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view for describing a mutual relationship between the first shaft 134 and the second shaft 144 of the fixing unit 120 used in an embodiment of the present invention. The first shaft 134 includes an elastic unit, but for easily description of the mutual relationship between the first shaft 134 and the second shaft 144, the elastic unit is not illustrated.

Structures of the first and second shafts 134 and 144 will now be described with reference to FIG. 7.

A first hooking end 145 having a rod shape in a certain diameter and length is formed at one side of an end of the second shaft 144 in a direction perpendicular to the second shaft 144.

A first insertion groove 135 into which the first hooking end 145 is inserted is formed at one side of the first shaft 134.

The first insertion groove 135 is formed from top to bottom of the first shaft 134. Here, a width of the first insertion groove 135 may be uniform from top to middle of the first shaft 134 while corresponding to a diameter of the first hooking end 145. Also, the width of the first insertion groove 135 may increase from the middle of the first shaft 134. Accordingly, the first insertion groove 135 may have an L shape in overall.

Accordingly, when the second shaft 144 is inserted into the first shaft 134 and then rotated, the first hooking end 145 is located below the first insertion groove 135, and thus the second shaft 144 may be prevented from being detached from the first shaft 134.

Referring back to FIGS. 5 and 6, first and second fixing ends 136 and 146 protrude respectively from surfaces of the body 130 and the rotor 140, which face each other.

The first fixing end 136 protrudes from a side end of the body 130.

The second fixing end 146 protrudes from a side end of the rotor 140 while protruding from a location facing the first fixing end 136 protruding from the body 130. Two ends of the elastic unit 150 having a certain height and a hexahedron shape described later are respectively fixed at the first and second fixing ends 136 and 146.

According to the current embodiment, it is described that the first fixing end 136 protrudes from the body 130 and the second fixing end 146 protrudes from the rotor 140, but the first fixing end 136 may protrude from the rotor 140 and the second fixing end 146 may protrude from the body 130.

The elastic unit 150 is disposed on a shaft where the body 130 and the rotor 140 are connected, and applies elastic force to the rotor 140. The elastic unit 150 used in the current embodiment includes a coil spring. Hereinafter, it is assumed that the elastic unit 150 is a coil spring, and the same reference numeral is used.

The coil spring 150 is disposed to surround an outer circumference of the first shaft 134. Accordingly, a diameter of the coil spring 150 may correspond to a diameter of the first shaft 134.

Two ends of winding of the coil spring 150 may respectively extend towards the first and second fixing ends 136 and 146, and may be respectively fixed to the first and second fixing ends 136 and 146. Accordingly, the coil spring 150 may apply elastic force to the body 130 and the rotor 140 through the first and second fixing ends 136 and 146. Here, since the body 130 is disposed on the combining groove 112, only the rotor 140 may rotate in a certain direction by the elastic force.

Here, a rotation preventing end 138 may protrude from one side of the body 130 such that rotating of the rotor 140 is restricted. A hooking groove 148 may be formed on the rotor 140 at a location corresponding to the rotation preventing end 138.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a fixing unit 120A used according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, the fixing unit 120A disposed at a corner portion of the picture frame 100 may include a body 130A having a shape corresponding to a corner shape of the picture frame 100.

Since a structure of the fixing unit 120A is the same as that described above except for the shape of the body 130A, details thereof are not provided again.

Using of a picture frame according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for describing how an embodiment of the present invention is used.

The notice 1 is prepared. The notice 1 includes the plurality of fixing holes 2 along the edge of the notice 1.

Here, the fixing unit 120 is disposed on the picture frame 100 at a location corresponding to the fixing hole 2. Also, the number of fixing unit 120 corresponds to the number of fixing holes 2.

An operator locates the notice 1 at a location A1. Then, the operator rotates the rotor 140 to be disposed at a location A2 such that the hook 142 is hooked to the fixing hole 2.

Next, when the operator removes force applied to the rotor 140, the rotor 140 rotates to a location B2 according to elastic force of the coil spring 150, and the notice 1 moves to a location B1.

When the fixing units 120 are respectively fixed to the fixing holes 2 of the notice 1, the notice 1 may stretch out and be posted according to the elastic force of the coil spring 150 included in the fixing unit 120 of the notice 1.

When the notice 1 is to be replaced, operations may be performed in a reverse order of fixing the notice 1.

According to a picture frame of one or more embodiments of the present invention, a fixing unit fixing a notice is disposed along an edge of the picture frame such that the notice is easily replaced and fixed, and the notice may be fixed and stretched out as a fixing hole of the notice is hooked on a rotor rotating according to manipulation of a user, and after the notice is hooked, the rotor returns to an original location by elastic force.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. 

1. A picture frame that fixes and posts a notice comprising a fixing hole along a side end, the picture frame comprising: a plurality of frames comprising, in a length direction, a combining groove having a uniform width, and providing an arrangement space of the notice as ends of the plurality of frames are mutually connected; and a fixing unit provided on the combining groove, and fixes the notice by hooking the fixing hole to one end, wherein the fixing unit applies elastic force to the notice through the fixing hole such that the notice is stretched out and fixed.
 2. The picture frame of claim 1, wherein the plurality of frames are provided such that the combining groove faces a front surface of the plurality of frames.
 3. The picture frame of claim 2, wherein the combining groove has an upper width narrower than a lower width.
 4. The picture frame of claim 1, wherein the fixing unit comprises: a body having a width corresponding to a width of the combining groove and comprising a connection groove into which an inner upper portion of the combining groove is inserted along a side surface; a rotor having one end rotatably disposed on the body and the other end comprising a hook that is hooked to the fixing hole; and an elastic unit disposed on a connection axis of the body and the rotor to apply elastic force to the rotor.
 5. The picture frame of claim 4, further comprising first and second fixing ends respectively protruding towards each other on the body and the rotor and are fixed as two ends of the elastic unit are respectively hooked.
 6. The picture frame of claim 4, further comprising first and second fixing ends respectively protruding towards each other on the body and the rotor and are fixed as two ends of the elastic unit are respectively hooked.
 7. The picture frame of claim 6, wherein a width of the first insertion groove corresponds to a diameter of the first hooking end from top to middle, and is larger than the diameter of the first hooking end from middle to bottom.
 8. The picture frame of claim 4, further comprising a rotation preventing end protruding from the body towards a hooking groove of the rotor.
 9. The picture frame of claim 3, wherein the fixing unit comprises: a body having a width corresponding to a width of the combining groove and comprising a connection groove into which an inner upper portion of the combining groove is inserted along a side surface; a rotor having one end rotatably disposed on the body and the other end comprising a hook that is hooked to the fixing hole; and an elastic unit disposed on a connection axis of the body and the rotor to apply elastic force to the rotor. 